Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene surgical membrane in ovarian surgery on the rabbit. Biocompatibility, adhesion prevention properties and ability to preserve reproductive capacity

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the biocompatibility, adhesion prevention properties and ability to preserve reproductive capacity of polytetrafluoroethylene surgical membrane in ovarian surgery on the rabbit. STUDY DESIGN: In two groups of female rabbits a standard lesion was made on each ovary. In group 1, one ovary was partially covered with a flat sheet of the surgical membrane, and the other was left uncovered so that each rabbit served as its own control. In group 2, one ovary was again left uncovered to serve as an internal control, and the other was completely covered with a "cap" of the surgical membrane. Laparotomies were performed several weeks postoperatively after the rabbits were mated with fertile males; adhesions were evaluated, and the number of cornual pregnancies was determined. RESULTS: In group 1, 67.9% of the control ovaries and 7.1% of the partially covered ovaries had adhesions (P < .002); in the uterine horn on the control side, 32.1% of the rabbits exhibited cornual pregnancies (1.14 ± 1.72 [mean ± SD] pregnancies per rabbit), whereas on the experimental side, 89.3% of the rabbits exhibited cornual pregnancies (3.89 ± 1.58 per rabbit). In group 2, 83.3% of the control ovaries and 11.1% of the covered ovaries had adhesions CP < .001); in the uterine horn on the con-trol side, 23.5% of the rabbits exhibited cornual pregnancies (2 ± 1.1 per rabbit), whereas on the experimental side, 100% of the rabbits exhibited cornual pregnancies (4.8 ± 0.9 per rabbit). CONCLUSION: The surgical membrane is an excellent device for preventing the formation of adhesions to the ovary after surgery in rabbits, preserving the reproductive capacity of the ovary